Jean E. Forbess

Madison - Jean E. Forbess, age 82, died peacefully on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at Walnut Grove Assisted Living Facility in Middleton after having been afflicted with Alzheimers for several years.

Jean Forbess was born in Appleton, Wisconsin on October 17, 1927, daughter of Carl and Elsie Johnson.  She graduated from Pulaski High School in Milwaukee in the class of 1945.  She graduated from UW-Madison with a B.A. in Elementary Education in 1973.  She married Robert Forbess on July 7, 1946.  She was a devoted homemaker, wife and mother.  She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Robert, and their children, Gary (Beth) of Kearney, NE, Jim (Karen Kushner) of Mahtomedi, MN, Russ (Linda) of Schofield, WI, and Kathy Gallaher (Bill) of Mt. Pleasant, MI.  She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Jessica Forbess, Julia Forbess, Daniel Forbess, Nathan Gallaher, Michael Forbess, Jenny Gallaher, and Sarah Gallaher.  She also is survived by one cousin, Carol (Maas), in the United States and one cousin in Australia as well as several cousins in Norway.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Elsie Johnson.

Jean and Robert began their married life in Hartford and Manchester, CT where both she and Robert, worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft.  In 1952, they moved to Norwich, NY, where she was active in community affairs including scouting, school fund-raising, and Sunday-school teaching at the First Congregational Church.  She and her husband, Robert, owned and operated a small business, Chenango Peat Co.  In 1967, Jean and her family moved to Madison, WI.  Her culinary skills and selfless, gentle, loving nature were universally recognized by all who knew her.  Jean was passionate about her family and found ways to encourage and support each of them throughout her life.  She was a long-standing member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison, where she volunteered in the church library and in various programs at Bethel Horizons.  She had a gift for gardening and was a Master Gardener.  Jean enjoyed music and the arts, sewing and knitting, as well as camping and traveling.  At family gatherings, she loved to match her card-playing skills against all comers and win-lose or draw found pleasure and humor throughout.

Arrangements are being made through Cress Funeral Home.   Memorial Service to be announced later.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers at Walnut Grove for their outstanding care and devotion to Jean and to her family.  The family also wants to thank Dr. Ansfield and his staff and the hospice team for their caring and compassion during this time.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimers and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin, 517 N Segoe Rd., Suite #301, Madison, WI 53705, HospiceCare, Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy, Madison, WI 53711 or Bethel Horizons Foundation, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, WI 53703.